New Business Idea - VC's made to order...

[redbarchetta]

Watching this on French eB#y, just in stunned silence really...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141039463793?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Currently £160 for a very poor attempt at Gilbert Insall's VC - name spelled wrong, 'Royal' omitted from Royal Flying Corps etc.

Think I need to buy a box of repro VCs and a Dremel engraver jobbie and start going through copies of 'VCs of the First World War'... One a week (don't want to flood the market) would cover the weekly shopping very nicely...

What are people thinking???

James

[Gunner Bailey]

I suppose you could always report it to ebay as counterfeit goods. especially, as you say, the surname is incorrectly spelt.

John

[deadin]

At least the seller admits that it is a"Private Purchase Model" from between the wars (i.e. "Copy"and a poor one at that.)

Interesting that they noted that it would not be sent to England........

[centurion]

I suppose you could always report it to ebay as counterfeit goods. especially, as you say, the surname is incorrectly spelt.

John

Does this imply that if it was a perfect reproduction it wouldn't be counterfeit - surely not?

[Moonraker]

I wonder if in 50 year' time people will be getting excited about discovering these in grand-dad's belongings and be inquiring about them here thinking they may be the real thing?

Moonraker

[John_Hartley]

I wonder if in 50 year' time people will be getting excited about discovering these in grand-dad's belongings and be inquiring about them here thinking they may be the real thing?

I recall we've already had that on the forum a couple of years back. Someone claiming grandad's VC had been stolen from the house. Got into the press, IIRC. And the cops were involved - not very happily in the event.

[Gunner Bailey]

Does this imply that if it was a perfect reproduction it wouldn't be counterfeit - surely not?

Silly point. Repro is repro no matter how well (or badly) it is done.

John

[Gunner Bailey]

Watching this on French eB#y, just in stunned silence really...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141039463793?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Currently £160 for a very poor attempt at Gilbert Insall's VC - name spelled wrong, 'Royal' omitted from Royal Flying Corps etc.

Think I need to buy a box of repro VCs and a Dremel engraver jobbie and start going through copies of 'VCs of the First World War'... One a week (don't want to flood the market) would cover the weekly shopping very nicely...

What are people thinking???

James

The original is in the RAF museum at Hendon. Perhaps the seller could explain this? John

[centurion]

Silly point. Repro is repro no matter how well (or badly) it is done.

John

Yes of course hence my question - So what has the spelling of the name [report it to ebay as counterfeit goods. especially, as you say, the surname is incorrectly spelt] to do with anything then? It should be reported regardless.

[Gunner Bailey]

I have reported it as counterfeit goods. Clearly some people are being fooled. ohn

[redbarchetta]

And a fool and his money are soon parted.

Guess reporting it is the right thing to do - interesting to see whether eB#y actually react.

So you are saying my brilliant new start-up business is dead in the water?... Darn it!

James

[Gunner Bailey]

I could sell you a bridge in London? No?

John

[green_acorn]

And a fool and his money are soon parted.

Guess reporting it is the right thing to do - interesting to see whether eB#y actually react.

So you are saying my brilliant new start-up business is dead in the water?... Darn it!

James

And a fool and his money are soon parted.

Guess reporting it is the right thing to do - interesting to see whether eB#y actually react.

So you are saying my brilliant new start-up business is dead in the water?... Darn it!

James

It isn't there now. It will appear when you use the link, but have a look at the sellers other stuff and it won't be listed - which means they have pulled it.

[liliasodell]

Nope - it's still active. I just put it on my watch list, and it's still running! Doesn't show up on the UK site - probably as they won't post here. And it doesn't show on the seller's 'see other items' (as mentioned before) for exactly the same reason (I've seen this before with other items the seller wouldn't ship to the UK - these things don't show up). If ebay hasn't removed it, the only other thing to do is try to contact the winning bidder after the auction end, and make sure they are aware that it's a repro ...

[Moonraker]

At least the seller admits that it is a"Private Purchase Model" from between the wars...

I guess that if the seller is stating this then it's a legitimate item to offer, though he should have include something like "COPY" in the title. Some people - apparently quite a few in this case - don't bother to read the small print. There are quite a few copies of desirable postcards offered on eBay, with starting prices of £1.99 (for example), when the real thing might be worth £50+. These are usually stated to be photographs, and a few vendors do emphasise that they are NOT postcards. I believe that there's a small market for copies of boxes for old Dinky toys, which are worth far more boxed; I don't know how clear it is they are copies.

How much would a good copy of a VC be worth? Some would say next to nothing, others might like one for a collection because they'll never be able to afford the real thing.

Moonraker

[Gunner Bailey]

I would encourage more people to report this. People are clearly being taken in. The actual value of this 'medal' is about £15-20.

John

[Moonraker]

Caveat emptor? Read the small print? But I agree that it's not the sort of thing that does eBay's reputation any good and they should take the matter up with the vendor - though it's getting late ...

Time was when one could contact a naive bidder, but eBay has made this impossible. A few years ago, someone listed a postcard showing a couple of soldiers and because it was published by a Salisbury photographer suggested they were probably members of the Wiltshire Regiment. I knew that they were not and believed the photograph was taken at Sutton Mandeville Camp (not many images of which exist). Someone whose eBay profile showed he was a Wiltshire Regiment enthusiast started bidding against me; I contacted the vendor who was reluctant to do anything about it, so I tipped off my rival, who then sought to retract his bids - to which the vendor somewhat ungraciously agreed.

Have any of us approached the VC vendor about their unhappiness?

Moonraker

[Staffsyeoman]

Still active at 1340A today... Grief, who would fall for this at that kind of money.

[redbarchetta]

Have sent in a 'Counterfeit goods' report to add to John's. Not sure a note to the French seller would make any difference, only eBay will remove this. Odd that it no longer appears on searches, but is still active - when things have been removed before they disappear completely, off Watched lists etc.

Do the bidders really think they are getting a £100k+ medal for £170?

James

[Gunner Bailey]

Have sent in a 'Counterfeit goods' report to add to John's. Not sure a note to the French seller would make any difference, only eBay will remove this. Odd that it no longer appears on searches, but is still active - when things have been removed before they disappear completely, off Watched lists etc.

Do the bidders really think they are getting a £100k+ medal for £170?

James

Thanks for backing me on this. The integrity of the militaria trade is based upon honest traders selling authentic goods. I am appalled when people try to pull blatant con tricks.

John